BarkRiver Ek Night Fighter

I was wrong..Vassili does'nt get the last word lol..I just received my Night Fighter from AG Russell's which is great except for one thing..On ONE side it is ground as a Night Fighter and the OTHER side is ground as a Commando (have a look at the AG Russell site and you'll see what I mean) which is unique in my experience anyway..How this ever got through quality control (at Bark River) I have no idea. If you look at Vassili's pictures you see his is normal..oh well, back to the drawing board, I guess..
 
ROFL I KNEW you'd say something..actually, I knew you'd laugh..I was actually going to say "Mutt..feel free to laugh" lol but i thought that was just asking for it..I was even going to say "serves me right" but then I knew you'd be along. I hope your collection just rusts..do you hear me? RUSTS! lol. Sigh..this is the best laugh I've had all day..I must get out more.
 
Roderic41: You mean that its 'marked' as the comando or that the "grind" is different on one side than on the other? ...I'm going to assume you mean the latter, which is a worst-case scenario...

If the knife has been ground differently on one side than the other, does this effect the way it cuts? How about strength?

Ya know, I was wondering why the knife was so inexpensive - A2 steel is usually alot more pricey - should have known there'd be a down side... I just ordered one on Sunday so I guess I'll find out first hand soon enough.

Its a shame because this will be the second Bark River knife I've bought that has had some type of "issue" with it. The other one I have is a Bowie design that was really a prototype, though this was not disclosed to me by the seller and the knife wasn't marked as such. That knife has definately got some fit & finish issues in addition to being a 'prototype' and I will probably send it back to the maker for a little fine tuning, seeing as how I paid more than 3x as much for it as the Night Fighter is going for...

I have to say, the above referenced controversy aside, this is my 2nd BR knife and if it is ground asymetrically like Roderic's, I'm not sure I'll buy another Bark River knife. Seems like there are some QC issues - as a matter of fact, more than 10 years ago, when my buddy got his Black Jack Mamba, I seem to remember there being a little QC issue with it as well. Not good. We'll just have to wait & see on this one...

Anyone else experience this problem with their Night Fighter or is Roderic the only one?
 
James..all jokes aside..it is the worst case scenario, it is ground asymetrically which amazed me, quite frankly. It also appears to have a (very) slight bend to the right at the top of the blade, the bottom appears to be straight. It cuts fine, strength I cant comment on..its rather slim at the front anyway so I personally would'nt pry with it. But for $50 it's a good beater. My nephew is after one so I have ordered another. I informed AG Russell about the knife and asked them to check the blade on the next one. They have not replied as yet and I'll be mighty annoyed if they don't.
If they inform me it is the same I will cancel the order, if it is delivered and it is the same I will return it.
Vasilli's is not like this, I can tell from the photos, which are very clear.
I live in Australia so I won't bother sending back the first knife for the price etc etc but if yours is the same and you live in the US I'd sent it back, it's NOT what you paid for, they are advertised as NIB not "seconds"
This is my second Bark River, the first was the Rogue Bowie and it was perfect.
 
I got another today.

First have even grinds, but I have impression that it is bende just a little to the right:

BarkRiver-EK-NightFighter-09.jpg


It is almost not noticible as you may see.

The second knife is differentr that first one and when I check A.G.Russel site I found that first one is actually 5 Commando - with shorter top grind and long ricasso. And second one is actually Night Fighter with longer top grind and short ricasso. So I have both models but marked as Night Fighter.

Pictures will be awailable tommorow.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
A fool and his money is soon parted...
There's a sucker born every minute...

I mean... If we put aside the trademark infringement issue altogether, the knife is still has QC issues. I have quite a few effingham eks and I can lay about twenty of them down and tell you exactly when quality control started going to crap. The Bark River endeavors ( and I have a few myself) sit at the very end of them lineup. If they can't get the grindlines right, who knows if they got the heat treat right as well. There are many similarly priced knives from good makers and marketing companies that are vastly superior. I think if you guys are trying to buy them to spite me, and I hope you are, then the only persons who are being hurt are yourselves (certainly not me since I'm getting a good laugh). Send them all back and buy a Cold Steel SRK or an ODA instead.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
A fool and his money is soon parted...
There's a sucker born every minute...
Click to expand...

Mutt, Mutt, Mutt..Obi-Wan Rod gives an inscrutable Confucian like smile lol..
If I was you I would have said something helpful like "Gee if the worst case scenario continues, maybe you guys should post on the AG Russell section at the OTHER knife forum" and then as an aside "Maybe even post on the (gasp) Bark River forum.."
After all, quality control issues regarding these knives have only just been mentioned..and as to buying knives to "spite you" lol..
At this point in time we have one (mine), and one only, that has definite QC issues. Vassili seems to have received a first knife that is mislabelled and a second which is slightly irregular, if you will. Although if Vassili says that the second is unacceptable because of the bend, it is. I myself can barely see the bend although I'm sure it's there, it is on mine.
James, you can see what I mean by the fine point and prying from Vassili's photograph.
I think that if the worst case scenario unfolds, ie I receive another one with QC issues and James gets one with same and no explanation from AG Russell then I/we should post on the other forum. Something polite, of course, but businesslike.


PS On a brighter note I have been hacking and chopping everything in sight in my backyard, hardwoods and the like. The knife has performed well and has suffered no ill effects so far, although it is early days yet, of course.
 
Ah Rod,
I'll be polite, friendly and businesslike...
Just like the time I was in the Army and going through basic training. The Drill Instructor picked me up every time I fell down and washed out my scrapes, and bandaged them with a kiss. And, that one time I accidentally fired my rifle at the commanding officer cause I forgot to keep my finger off the trigger and had a habit of keeping it loaded when I wasn't supposed to... well, he took me aside, gave me a pat on the back and said "it could have happened to anyone" and gave me an ice cream...

Yeah...

Honestly though... You guys, in this thread, chose to do business with a manufacturer who's reputation and QC is less than stellar, and a retailer whom isn't really interested in much other than making your money... both of which I have experienced firsthand. However, everytime I try to speak up about it, my character is attacked...

So, I'll just sit back and watch you guys learn the lesson I learned... the hard way...
 
MM: I can respect your opinion but you are being a bit hostile about expressing it :( . It takes away from the sincerity of your message.

FYI; I already own the CS SRK - like it alot but the handle design isn't so hot & its kind of a 'plain jane' overall design quite frankly. It's still a favorite of mine but the ascetics of the BR/EK model are much better - as for the ODA or UWK or what have you - not interested. Cheap 420 stainless steel does not appeal to me. Even with a Cold Steel heat treat. I would probably look at knifewear's 8" camp knife (similar to my BJ Grunt) in AUS8 before picking up the CS models in 420.

The BR/EK uses A2 steel & I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt on the heat treatment... From what I understand, the knife was actually produced by Marbles (when Mike Stewart worked with them) & I haven't heard any complaints about their heat treatments.

Not to sound too niave but AG Russell's guaranty seems to be similar, at least in theory, to Swamp Rat's - YOU decide what the solution will be to the problem. Anyone who will put that in writing on their website will get the benefit of the doubt from me anytime.

Bottom line is, I will withold judgement on both AG Russell's customer service and Bark River's QC until I recieve my new knife & find out first hand. If MM's correct and I am unhappy, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. But I will handle it professionally & give each company an opportunity to make it right. If I were in their shoes, I would expect the same from my customers. Either way, I will post a thread on the subject when I get the knife.

Later,

James
 
James, it's fine if you want to figure out things for yourself, but let me just simplify this, as well as at least one other thread here on the forum...

1: Hey all, please give me advice...
2: Here's your advice...
1:Screw you and your advice... furthermore, you're a moron...
2: Well, you asked for advice...
1: But you didn't tell me what I wanted to hear...
2:Then don't ask for advice...
1: Mind your own business...

I'm getting to the conclusion that most people know already what they want and no matter what you tell them, they're gonna do it anyway...

Enjoy your knife.... I'll be snickering here all week long...
 
Thanks for the heads up, MM.

It's good to hear some credible opinions like MM's, even if they are unpopular with some people.
 
Here the pictures:

BarkRiver-EK-NightFighter-18.jpg


BarkRiver-EK-NightFighter-19.jpg


BarkRiver-EK-NightFighter-20.jpg


Let me express that first knife has a little bend and I order another one knowiong about it. This is great knife for the great price.

Thanks, Vassili

P.S. I will never buy any cuttlery from Target made in Taiwan - what if it made by father of MM's wife.
 
"Honestly though... You guys, in this thread, chose to do business with a manufacturer who's reputation and QC is less than stellar"


Most of my sales are at gun and knife shows where the customer gets to inspect the knife before buying, but on any Bark River products I sell over the internet I have a standing offer to buy back any Knife the customer isn't happy with -- for any reason. That's how much I think of the quality of Bark River products. The final grinding, sharpening, and fitting of the handle is done by hand, and I'm certainly not going to say that sometimes mistakes don't happen. However, I've found Mike and company to be very good about correcting the rare imperfection that leaves the shop.

I'm sort of a knife snob regarding what I buy and carry, and I am nothing but satisfied with Bark Rivers. I think they are among the best knives around for the price.
 
as you can clearly tell from my side profile thing, I do not post often...
but if it's Ek knives were talking about I need to say something.

Want an Ek knife? go to www.ekknife.com

that's the American Historical Foundation.

they may be a little more expensive than the craton handled "knock off's"
but they are as close to the "real deal" as youre gonna get.

They are not the same as the older Richmond manufacture..but they are still good knives.

Want an older Blackjack Ek knife? give me a shout...I have a couple left.

From what I had read on a another forum....Gary Ek was pretty pissed off at everyone carrying the trademark...by "everyone" I mean the AHF/ Bob Buerlaine....why? I'm not positive...apparently they screwed Gary, and the Ek family in one way or another.

If you want a REAL Ek knife....you need to get yourself a Hamden, Conn. one..
those were the REAL deal

If you just want a kick ass knife that will be there for you no matter what, and appreciate the patrioticism of Ek, Randall, but want something even more up to date, and with a no BS warranty --IE: you break it we fix it...no questions asked--

www.bluelinegear.com

order a STRIDER KNIFE!

nothing beats it.

brunovago@hotmail.com

Bruno
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top